Welcome!

The Township's first permanent settler, William Burnett, arrived in 1780.  Burnett established a successfully trading post, but true settlement did not begin until 50 years later in 1830.  The community grew so rapidly thereafter, that it incorporated as a township in 1823. 

At one time, fruit agriculture was paramount with more than 2,000 acres devoted to this industry by the 1880's.  The Township has gradually developed into a residential area, with areas of commercial, light industrial and medical facilities rounding out the community.

Today St. Joseph Charter Township is known to be an excellent,
upper-class, residential community fully equipped with water, sewer, and waste management.  There are paved roads throughout the Township, cable TV, and good recreational programs.  The Township, with only 23 full-time employees, contracts for most of its services.  This results in a relatively low tax rate.  St. Joseph Charter Township is a typical bedroom community with no downtown area, except for the City of St. Joseph.  The only lakefront property within the Township belongs to Shoreham Village, a small, incorporated community in the southwest corner of the Township.  Most of the housing units are well maintained with a few upper-class residential subdivisions added each year.  The community is financially stable and has not increased its general operating millage for 20 years.

To find out why St. Joseph Charter Township is "A Full Service Community", please explore the rest of the pages of this web site.